Vehicle park/lock mechanism with control module having a locking mechanism and a control switch actuated by the locking mechanism

ABSTRACT

A vehicle park/lock mechanism with a novel control module in which is located a locking mechanism, an electrically actuated actuator for actuating said locking mechanism said module including a control switch which is actuated in response to the actuation of the locking mechanism. A restraining member is provided to prevent actuation of such switch to assure complete unlocking of the locking mechanism before the switch is actuated.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.08/331,358 filed Oct. 27, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,141, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/063,241 filed May 18,1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,870.

This invention relates generally to a vehicle park/lock mechanism with acontrol module for controlling the locking mechanism for a shiftinglever of an automatic transmission. More particularly, such controlmodule includes a locking mechanism for locking the shift lever in apark position against rotation to other gear positions and also includesa control switch actuated by the locking mechanism. More specifically,this invention relates to an improvement in the locking mechanism ofU.S. Pat. No. 5,402,870 entitled "VEHICLE PARK/LOCK MECHANISM" filed onMay 18, 1993, and issued on Apr. 4, 1995, and also the locking mechanismof co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/331,358 filed on Oct. 27,1994 and entitled "VEHICLE PARK/LOCK MECHANISM"(now U.S. Pat. No.5,494,141); of which this patent application is a continuation in part.

In co-pending application Ser. No. 08/331,358 (now U.S. Pat. No.5,494,141) and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,870, the problems that have beenencountered in the unattended acceleration of a vehicle and shiftingfrom the park position to the other gear positions are explained. Suchproblems prompted efforts which have been made to prevent the shiftingof the shift lever until the brake pedal has been depressed so that thevehicle does not move before it is intended by the driver. In U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,096,033 and 5,402,870 and also in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/331,358 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,141) there is disclosedelectrically operated control modules. These control modules arecontrolled by the application or non-application of the brakes of thevehicle in which the shifter is mounted. When the brakes are notapplied, the pins are in an extended position which prevents theactuation of a pawl actuator and, accordingly, the pin, when extended,prevents the shifting of the shift lever. However, when the pin isdistended by applying the brakes, it is located out of the path of thelockout arm, permitting the actuation of the pawl and shifting of theshift lever from park position to other gear positions. In U.S. Pat. No.5,402,870 and co-pending application Ser. No. 08/331,358 (now U.S. Pat.No. 5,494,141), it was pointed out that there are other types of lockoutmechanism that have been devised. One such suggested mechanism was tomount an electrically operated control module having a pin movablebetween a distended position to an extended position on the tube of ashift lever. In such mechanisms, the pin is movable in response to theenergization of the coil of the module to an extended position and intothe path of the pawl actuator. The pin actually is an armature forced bythe magnetic field of the coil into a notch formed in the side of thepawl actuator locking the pawl actuator against movement by the driver.Both the pin and notch included angled sides which engage each other sothat when the coil is not energized, the pin was a cammed out of the wayof the pawl actuator permitting the driver to move the pawl out of thepark/lock position. In this proposed design, the axial center of thecoil of the module and the pin extended along an axis parallel to thepawl actuator and the pin was held in the notch of the pawl actuator bya magnetic force and was withdrawn from the notch by a spring. Thisarrangement resulted in a temporary binding force between the pawlactuator and the pin which gave an undesirable feel to the driver. As aresult it was contemplated to provide two similar modules spaced oneabove the other in an attempt to eliminate such binding. Such previousdesign also had the decided disadvantage of cost in requiring constantenergization of coils during the park/lock condition of the shifter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,870 discloses a simplified, lower cost version of abrake/park lock mechanism for preventing a driver from shifting a shiftlever from park position to another gear position unless the brake isapplied. Such device includes the combination of a locking member andmechanical advantage means for actuating the locking member by applyinga force on the mechanical advantage means in a direction substantiallyorthogonal to the direction of the movement of a locking member. Suchcombination takes advantage of the lesser force required to move thelocking member into locked position and a greater force exerted by themechanical advantage means in holding the locking member in lockedposition.

More specifically, the device of application Ser. No. 08/063,241 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,402,870) discloses a unique mechanical advantage meanswhich comprises a toggle joint operatively connected between theactuator of the electrical module and the locking member, thus utilizingthe mechanical advantage of the toggle joint. Therefore, in the lockedposition of the locking member, the toggle joint is capable ofwithstanding the inadvertent force a driver might exert on the pawlactuator without applying the vehicle's brakes. The toggle mechanismincludes at least two links which are pivotally connected together atone of their ends at a point referred to hereinafter as the "knee." Attheir other ends, one of the links is pivoted about a fixed axis and theother end of the link is slidable and connected to the locking member.When the two links are aligned or nearly aligned with the pivotal axisof the knee on the center line between the pivotal axes of the otherends of the links, the force required on the locking membersubstantially along such center line to pivot the two links istremendous. However, if the pivotal axis or knee of the two links ismoved a sufficient distance off center in one direction, the two linkscan be pivoted relative to each other with very little force on thelocking member. Thus, as the distance between the center line and theaxis of the knee between the two links increases, the amount of forcerequired to move the pawl actuator decreases.

The device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,870 takes advantage of the abovephenomenon by applying a force to the knee between the links toward thecenter line by a biasing means such as a spring, until the knee reachesthe center line or slightly beyond where it abuts against a stop. Atsuch position, the locking member is immovable until the moduleactuator, which is movable in response to the coil of the module and isconnected to the toggle joint at the pivotal axis or knee between thetwo links, pulls the knee away from the center line, thus greatlyreducing the restraining force of the toggle.

A control module of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/331,358 (now U.S. Pat.No. 5,494,141) takes advantage of the above phenomenon by applying aforce to the knee between the links in a direction toward the centerline by a permanent magnetic force until the axis of the knee reaches aposition only slightly above the center line. At such position, thelocking member is immovable until a repelling magnetic force is exertedon the knee to force the knee away from the center line, thus greatlyreducing the restraining force of the toggle and, in fact, moving thelocking member to an unlocked position.

The magnetic attracting and repelling forces exerted on the knee betweenthe links toward and away from the center line are created by apermanent magnet associated with the module actuator. The polarizedpermanent magnet is attracted to a metal core surrounded by a coil thatis energized in response to the application of the brakes of thevehicle. Thus, in the locked position of the knee of the toggle joint,the permanent magnet is attracted to the metal core to move and hold thelocking member in locked position. However, when the coil is energized,it changes the magnetic pole at the end of the metal core, causing thepolarized permanent magnet to be repelled and thus, the central axis ofthe knee to be forced away from the center line so as to reduce therestraining force of the toggle and, in effect, withdraw the lockingmember out of the locked position.

In accordance with the present invention which is an improved version ofthe mechanism of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/331,358 (now U.S. Pat. No.5,494,141) we have modified the control module by incorporating thereinnot only a lock mechanism but a control switch actuated by the lockingmechanism in response to the movement of the locking member or pin to acompletely unlocked position of the locking member. In the preferredform of this invention, when the coil is energized, the magnetic pull atthe end of the metal core is changed causing the polarized permanentmagnetic to be repelled, the central axis of the knee is forced awayfrom the center line of the locking member as in the module of ourco-pending application. In addition to the locking mechanism, we provideabove the knee of the toggle joint a switch positioned to be actuated bythe movement of the knee of the toggle joint so as a result when thelocking member is completely in the unlocked position, the knee actuatesthe switch which in turn controls an electrical interlocked module forcontrolling a steering lock and ignition switch key lock mechanism.Therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a controlmodule which includes both a locking mechanism and a control switchactuated by the locking mechanism so that the actuation of the pushbutton for the shifting lever which ultimately unlocks the lever forshifting to positions other than "Park" is coordinated with theactuation of the key interlock solenoid. This is important because it isabsolutely essential that the steering lock mechanism is not locked whenthe shifter is in any one of the non-park positions.

In order to prevent the steering mechanism from being locked while theshifter lever is in an out of park position, the knee of the togglejoint is constantly actuating the control switch while the lever is inthe out of park position. Thus, the control switch in the control modulecontrols the key interlock solenoid which in turn controls a steeringlocking mechanism. In accordance with this invention a coil is providedfor actuating an actuator member that breaks the knee and moves it to afirst position where it is restrained by a resilient member from furthermovement just shy of the actuation of the switch. However, in this firstposition of the knee or actuator member, the force required to move thelocking member from said first position to a completely unlockedposition is sufficiently low that the operator of the vehicle by pushingon the button of the handle actuator overcomes the restraining force ofthe resilient member to move the locking member to the completelyunlocked position in which the knee or actuating member is in a secondposition for actuating the control switch. Thus, the present inventioncauses the key interlock solenoid to release the steering lockingmechanism only when a shift lever is released for shifting to out ofpark positions. Further, in accordance with well known steering lockmechanisms they are rendered ineffective during the time that theshifting lever is in the out of park positions.

Having briefly described the physical features of the invention, thefollowing drawings with a more detailed description will serve toexplain the concepts and principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sketchy, side elevational view of the shifter of thisinvention without the cable brackets;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational perspective view of the toggle mechanismutilized in this invention to actuate the locking member;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional, side-elevational view of theinvention, in disclosing a control module mounted on a shifting lever;

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram of the module;

FIG. 5A is an enlarged side elevational view of the control moduleillustrating its relationship to the pawl actuator located within thetube of the shift lever, the pawl actuator being unactuated;

FIG. 5B is a view of the mechanism of FIG. 5A looking downwardly fromthe plane VB--VB of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a side elevational view like that of FIG. 5A but disclosingthe knee of the toggle joint being actuated to a first position nearlyactuating the control switch;

FIG. 6B is a top view of FIG. 6A looking downwardly from the planeVIB--VIB;

FIG. 7A is another side elevational view like that of FIGS. 5A and 5B inwhich the actuator has actuated the locking member to a completelyunlocked position wherein the knee of the toggle joint is in a thirdposition causing actuation of the control switch.

FIG. 7B is a top view of FIG. 7A looking downwardly from planeVIIB--VIIB;

FIG. 8 is a partial, cross sectional side elevational view of themodule.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, reference numeral1 designates an automatic shifting mechanism for an automotive vehicleelectrically connected to the Stop Lamp Switch 2 by an electric cord 3and to a Key Interlock Solenoid 4 by electric cord 5. When energized,Key Lock Solenoid 4 releases the Steering Lock Mechanism 4A. It shouldbe understood that this automatic shifting mechanism can be utilized inany system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,033 and U.S. applicationSer. No. 08/331,358, (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,141) both of which areincorporated herein by reference, although it can be used in manydifference systems wherein a park/lock has to be made responsive to apredetermined condition of the motor vehicle.

Shifting mechanism 1 includes a base 6 having a pair of spaced ears 7supporting the shift lever 8 about the axis "A." The base also supportsthe upright detent plate 9. Shift lever 8, as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 3is of the conventional type which includes a tube 10 secured at itslower end to the housing 11 which, in turn, is pivoted about the axis"A" by an axle 12 extending between the two ears 7. Housing 11 ispivotally mounted for pivoting the shift lever 8 to different gearpositions.

A handle 13 is secured to the top of the tube 10 and provides a housingwith means for actuating the pawl actuator 18 which is biased upwardlyin the tube 10 by a spring not shown. The means for actuating pawlactuator 18 includes a rod 14 contacting the button 15 slidably mountedwithin the handle 13. Incline camming surface 16 of button 15 contactsthe inclined cam surface 17 of a rod 14 so that when the button 15 isdepressed to overcome the bias of spring 16a, the rod or shaft 14 isforced downwardly. The pawl actuator 18 is located below the rod 14 andsupports the pawl 19 that holds the shift lever 8 in various gearpositions as established by the detent plate 9.

The pawl 19 extends through the pawl actuator 28 and extends throughslots 22 on each side of the tube 10, the pawl is thus movabledownwardly through the slots 22 and 23 from the position as disclosed inFIG. 1 to a position wherein the shift lever can be pivoted for locatingthe pawl 19 in any of the notches P, R, D, L1, L2 and L3.

Detent plate 9 is an upright plate having tabs 21a and 21b extendingthrough openings in the base and secured in an upright position. Detentplate 9 has a central opening defining a series of notches designated bythe letters "P," "R," "N," "D," "L1," "L2," and "L3." It is importantthat the park notch "P" is deeper than all of the remaining notches inorder that the pawl is prevented from being locked in any other notchthan in the park/lock notch P. One exception to this is if it isdesirable for some reason or another to lock the pawl 19 in the neutralposition "N" as well as in the park position "P", in which event thedepth of the notch in both the park and neutral position should be thesame.

The structure for locking the lever 8 in the park notch "P" comprisesthe control module 3 includes the toggle mechanism 32 connected tolocking member or pin 24 and its associated magnetic actuating mechanismwhich in the park/lock position is disclosed in FIGS. 2, 5B, 6B, and 6C.Also reference is made to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/331,358, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 2 discloses the locking pin 24 and the toggle linkage 32 whichcomprises the three links 38, 39, and 40 all of which are pivotallyconnected together at one of their ends on the pin 41 about the axis"Y." The other end of link 38 is pivoted on the pin 42 about the fixedaxis "Z." The other end of link 39 is pivotally mounted by the pivot pin43 to the locking pin 24 for pivotal movement about the axis "X." Theends of pin 43 are slidable in the grooves 44 (FIG. 5B) provided in eachpart 33a and 33b of the housing 33 in which the locking mechanism ismounted.

Link 40 includes the spaced upper ends 47a and 47b pivotally mounted onthe pin 41. Mounted below ends 47a and 47b is a housing 48 in whichmagnet 45 is mounted.

As disclosed in FIG. 5B, in the locked position of pin 24, the two axis"X" and "Z" are substantially aligned on the center line "CL" with theaxis "Y" located slightly above centerline "CL." The distance of axis"Y" spaced above the center line "CL" is governed by the bottom end 46of housing 48 abutting the top end 37a of the core 37. This distance isselected to provide the proper restraining force exerted by the toggleon pin 24, it being understood that as the axis "Y" moves away from thecenter line "CL" the amount of force required to move the locking pin 24out of the locking position substantially decreases. Therefore, theslight spacing of axis "Y" above the center line "CL" is selected sothat the restraining force on pin 24 prevents the driver by depressingbutton 15 from displacing the pin 24 toward the unlocked position whilethe brakes are not applied. In making this determination, it should betaken into account that in accordance with the well known principles ofmechanics, the force reduces measurably as the axis "Y" moves up. As apractical measure, the distance can be best determined by trial anderror after estimates are determined by the well known formulas fortoggle joints. We have found the spacing should fall within a distancewherein the angle between the center line "CL" and the lines drawnbetween "X" and "Y" and "Z" and "Y" are each between one and threedegrees (1°-3°) all as disclosed in our pending application Ser. No.08/331,358 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,141).

Toggle linkage 32 is mounted in housing 33 which is a plastic moldedhousing constructed in either one or two parts, preferably two parts forease of assembly. The toggle linkage 32 is mounted in a lower part ofthe housing 33. A control switch 50 is mounted in the upper part of thehousing 33 by means of pins 51 extending through the housing of theswitch in and into recesses (not shown) in the walls of the housingparts 33a and 33b. Switch 51 includes a switch button 52 that movesswitch element 53 (FIG. 4) from a first contact 54 to a second contact55 as will be explained hereinafter.

A resilient spring member 56 is mounted in the housing between theswitch 50 and the toggle joint 32. Spring member 56 which preferably isa leaf spring provides a restraining means to prevent the knee of thetoggle and the link 40 from actuating the switch button 52 until suchtime as the operator of the vehicle presses button 15 to actuate pawlactuator 18 and actuator 28 as will be explained hereinafter. Resilientspring 56 is a leaf spring mounted in the position as disclosed in FIGS.5B, 6B, and 7B by means of the protrusions 57a, 57b, 57c, and 57dbetween which spring 56 is captured for holding it in place but stillpermitting it to be flexed to the position as disclosed in FIG. 7B.

Module 30 also includes a coil housing 34 secured to the bottom ofhousing 33 and containing the coil 35 and metal core 37 which isT-shaped as disclosed in FIG. 8. Core 37 is a magnetic metal part whichis neutral and therefore, the magnet 45 in the link 40 (FIG. 2) isattracted to the core 37 thus urging the toggle joint 32 downwardly intothe position as disclosed in FIG. 5B. However, when the coil 35 isenergized, it magnetizes core 37 creating a south pole at its top endwhich repels magnet 45, thus forcing magnet 45 and the link 40, to whichit is attached upwardly to the position as disclosed in FIG. 6B whereinthe knee of the toggle linkage 32 engages the leaf spring 56. Therepelling force of the core 37 on the magnet 45 is insufficient toovercome the bias of spring 56 and accordingly spring 56 restrainsfurther movement of the knee 36 past the position as disclosed in FIG.6B, which discloses the locking element 40 withdrawn to a first positionas illustrated by FIG. 6A. In this first position, when inclined surface27 of the actuator element 28 engages inclined surface 26 and a force isexerted on actuator 18 the actuator element 28 forces the locking member24 inwardly into the housing 33 to the position of FIG. 7B at whichposition the switch push button 32 is depressed moving the switchingelement 53 from the contact 54 to the contact 55. This action ispermitted by virtue of the knee having been broken to the position asdisclosed in FIG. 6B at which position the combined restraining forceexerted by the toggle joint 32 and spring 56 has diminished to a levelthat is less than the force transmitted to the locking member 24 by theactuator member 28.

It should be understood that magnet 45 could be a north pole in whichevent core 37 would be magnetized to produce a north pole at its topend. The important factor is that when the coil 35 is energized thepoles of magnet 45 and the top of core 37 are like each other andtherefore repel each other.

As disclosed in FIG. 8, core 37 is T-shaped thereby having a larger head37a which rests on top of the coil 35. The extreme lower end 37b of thecore 37 has a reduced diameter extending through an opening in thebottom of the housing 34 to provide a shoulder 60 which rests on thecircumference of the opening to hold the core 37 in the opening 35a ofcoil 35. A washer like member 37c is mounted on the extreme lower end ofcore 37 and a spring 37d extends between the member 37c and the bottomsurface of housing 34 so as to bias core 37 downwardly into the positionas shown in FIG. 8. Core 37 is slidable within the opening of 35a andtherefore provides a manual means whereby the locking member 24 can bemanually forced to an unlocked position. This is accomplished by pushingupwardly on the lower end 37b of core 37 which manually breaks the knee35 of the toggle joint 32 to a position as disclosed in FIG. 7B so as tomanually actuate the locking member 24 to an unlocked position.

OPERATION

Having described the structure of our invention, an operation of thesame should be evident. Referring to FIG. 5A, it shows the module 30 inlocked position, that is, with the locking member or pin 24 extendinginto the path of the actuating member 28. In this position, the links38, 39, and 40 are positioned with the axis "Y" located a slightdistance above the center line "CL." This position is obtained by reasonof the magnet 45 which has a south pole being attracted to the core 37.In this position, the pin or locking member 24 prohibits the pawlactuator 28 from being pushed downwardly by the vehicle operator sincethe actuator member 28 would strike the pin 24. As a result, the pawl 19prevents the shifter from being shifted out of the park "P" slot. Theposition of the axis "Y" only a slight distance above the center line"CL" requires a tremendous force to be exerted longitudinally on thelocking member in order to break the knee of the toggle joint. Thus, thedriver is unable to actuate the pawl 19 by depressing plunger 15.

When the driver applies the brake, stop lamp switch 2 is actuated toenergize coil 35 causing the top end of the core 37 to be a south pole,i.e. like that of the magnet 45. As a result, the south pole at the topend of core 37 repels the south pole of the magnet 45 embedded in thehousing 48 of link 40. The link 40 is thus forced upwardly to theposition, as disclosed in FIG. 6B against the spring 56 (FIG. 6B). Themagnetic force on the magnet 45 transmitted to the link 40 forming apart of the knee 36 is insufficient to overcome the biasing force of theresilient leaf spring 56. When forced into the position of FIG. 6B, thetoggle joint 32 pulls a locking member 24 to a position as disclosed inFIG. 6A. In this position, since the knee 36 is broke upwardly therestraining force on pin 24 is greatly reduced, permitting the operatorof the vehicle to force the locking member 24 completely out of thelocked position. As previously explained, this results by virtue of therestraining force of the toggle joint 32 being greatly reduced as theaxis "Y" is moved upwardly by the repelling magnetic force of the core37. When the operator of the vehicle presses on the button 15 a forceexerted by surface 27 of the actuator member 28 on the surface 26 issufficient to overcome the biasing force of the spring 56 permitting theknee 36 to move upwardly and actuate the switch button 52.

Now referring to FIG. 4, the actuation of push button 52 causes switcharm 53 to move from contact 54 to contact 55 which breaks the circuit tothe coil 35 of the brake interlock electromagnet reducing the repellingforce on the magnet 45; however, the actuator member 28 prevents thereturn of the locking member 24 to a locked position so long as theshifting lever is out of park since the elongated actuator member 28 ispositioned in the path of the locking member 24 until the pawl 19 isreturned to the park position as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 5A. As aresult, coil 35 cannot be energized until the pawl 19 is returned to thepark position.

When switch element 53 is moved to contact 55 a circuit is completedthrough line 5 to the key interlock solenoid 4. This key interlocksolenoid 4 causes the steering lock mechanism 4A to be released when thekey is turned on. Further, so long as this solenoid is energized, i.e.,so long as locking member 24 is in the unlocked position of FIG. 7A, thesteering lock mechanism is released, and in fact as is well known inmany different steering lock mechanisms it is impossible to remove thekey until the shifting lever is returned to the park position and thepawl 19 is moved upwardly into the park notch "P."

It should be obvious from the above description that the presentinvention has many advantages. For example, only one switch is utilizedfor controlling the actuation of the locking member and the energizationof the key interlock solenoid. The spring 56 prevents oscillation of theactuation member 40 and coil 35 is energized only when in park. Further,the compactness and simplicity of the parts contributes to the low costof manufacture.

From the foregoing description, it may readily be observed by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention provides a novel lockoutmechanism for an automatic shifter wherein the shifter is locked intopark position unless the brake is applied. Those skilled in the art, ofcourse, will appreciate the many advantages of the present inventionover that shown in the prior art and will also recognize that manymodifications can be made without departing from the concept and spiritof the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. In a vehicletransmission shifter mechanism for a vehicle, said vehicle having asteering lock mechanism, an electrical key interlock module forcontrolling said steering lock mechanism and a brake, said vehicletransmission shifter mechanism having a brake/park/lock mechanism forpreventing the shifting of said transmission shifter from park positionto another gear position unless the brakes of the vehicle are applied;ashifting lever movable from a park position to at least one other gearposition; an actuator for releasing said shifting lever for movement tosaid other gear position; said brake/park/lock mechanism including anelectrically operated control module having a pin movable between alocked position to an unlocked position, said control module beingcontrolled by a driver applying the brakes of the vehicle in which saidvehicle transmission shifter mechanism is mounted whereby when thebrakes are not applied, said pin is urged to said locked position andwhen the brakes are applied, said pin is urged to a nearly unlockedposition in which position actuation of said actuator can release saidshifting lever for movement to said other gear position; said controlmodule including an electrical coil capable of being in an energized orde-energized state and an actuator member movable in response toenergization of said coil; said actuator member operatively connected tosaid pin; a metal core proximate said electrical coil and said actuatormember; said actuator member having a magnetic force associatedtherewith so as to be attracted to said metal core when said coil is oneof said energized or de-energized states to urge said pin to the lockedposition, and repelled by said metal core when said coil is in the otherof said energized or de-energized states to urge said pin toward thenearly unlocked position; an electrical switch for controlling theoperation of said electrical key interlock module; said actuator memberbeing movable by said magnetic force toward said electrical switch to afirst position nearly actuating said switch as said pin is urged towardthe unlocked position to said nearly unlocked position whereinsubsequently said actuator can move said pin to unlocked position forrelease by said actuator of said shifting lever for movement to saidother gear position, whereby at said nearly unlocked position saidactuator member is adapted to be moved to a second position by saidactuator to actuate said switch and operate said key interlock module tounlock said steering lock mechanism.
 2. The shifter mechanism of claim 1in which a resilient restrainer element is provided in a positionrelative to said actuator member to exert a force on said actuatormember opposite to said magnetic force exerted on said actuator memberto prevent said magnetic force associated with said actuator member fromactuating said actuator member to said second position; a force exertedon said pin by an operator of said shifting mechanism actuating saidactuator being sufficient to move said pin permitting said actuatormember to be moved to said second position at which said switch isactuated.
 3. The shifter mechanism of claim 2 in which the resilientrestrainer element is a spring.
 4. The shifter mechanism of claim 3 inwhich the spring is a leaf spring located between said actuator memberand switch.
 5. The shifter mechanism of claim 1 in which said actuatormember is operatively connected to said pin by a mechanical advantagemeans.
 6. The shifter mechanism of claim 5 in which said mechanicaladvantage means is a toggle joint.
 7. The shifter mechanism of claim 6in which said toggle joint means includes a first link and a secondlink, one end of said first link being pivotally connected to one end ofsaid second link providing a knee; the other end of said first linkbeing pivoted about a fixed axis and the other end of said second linkbeing pivotally connected about a movable axis to one end of said pinwhereby the positions of said knee correspond to the locked and unlockedpositions of said pin; andsaid actuator member being operativelyconnected to said first and second links at said knee.
 8. The shiftermechanism of claim 7 in which said actuator member is a third linkconnected directly to said knee and containing a magnet being attractedto said core when the coil is in the de-energized state and repelled bysaid core when the coil is in the said energized state.
 9. The shiftermechanism of claim 7 in which a resilient restrainer element is providedbetween the knee of said toggle joint and said switch whereby the forceexerted on the bending action of said knee by the repelling magneticforce exerted by said metal core on said actuator member is insufficientto overcome the restraining force of said restrainer element; asubsequent force exerted on said pin by an operator of said shiftingmechanism actuating said actuator being sufficient to overcome therestraining force of said restraining element and move said lockingmember to an unlocked position and said knee to said second position ofactuating said switch.
 10. The shifter mechanism of claim 9 in whichsaid actuator member is a third link connected directly to said knee andcontaining a magnet being attracted to said core when the coil is in thede-energized state and repelled by said core when the coil is in thesaid energized state.
 11. The shifter mechanism of claim 9 in which theresilient restrainer element is a spring.
 12. The shifter mechanism ofclaim 11 in which the spring is a leaf spring located between saidactuator member and switch.
 13. The shifter mechanism of claim 1 inwhich the shifting lever is a tube having a pawl actuator slidablyextending axially through at least a portion of the inner passageway ofsaid tube; said pin in its locked position extending into saidpassageway into the path of the pawl actuator.
 14. The shifter mechanismof claim 13 in which the control module including said toggle mechanismis located in a housing supported on said tube; said housing and saidtube having aligned openings to accommodate the movement of said pin inand out of the path of said pawl actuator.
 15. The shifter mechanism ofclaim 6 in which said actuator member extends substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said pin; and each of said first and secondlinks in the locked position of said pin extend at a slight angle awayfrom said core and the axis of said pin and, in the unlocked position ofsaid pin, extend at a greater angle away from said core and axis of saidpin.
 16. The shifter mechanism of claim 15 in which said pin extends andis movable substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tube.
 17. Thevehicle transmission shifter of claim 5 in which said pin is a lockingmember extending along a line, said mechanical advantage means includesan elongated mechanism in one position extending along said line saidelongated mechanism pivotally mounted at one end on a fixed axis locatedon said line and secured to said locking member at its other end, saidother end being movable with said locking member along said line, saidelongated mechanism having an intermediate portion movable intermediatesaid ends toward a second position in a direction substantiallyorthogonal to said direction of said line and responsive to the movementof said locking member along said line and vice versa; said actuatormember being operatively connected to said intermediate portion forrestraining the movement of said locking member when said ends andintermediate portion are substantially aligned and said locking memberis in locked position, and for moving said locking member when saidintermediate portion is spaced from said line in a direction toward saidactuator member and force is applied by said actuator member to saidintermediate portion.
 18. The vehicle shifter mechanism of claim 17 inwhich the mechanical advantage means is a toggle joint.
 19. The shifterof claim 17 in which said toggle joint includes a first link and asecond link, one of said first links being pivotally connected to oneend of said second link providing a knee; the other end of said firstlink being pivoted about a fixed axis and the other end of said secondlink being pivotally connected about a movable axis to one end of saidlocking member whereby the positions of said knee correspond to thelocked and unlocked positions of said locking member; andsaid actuatormember being operatively connected to said first and second links atsaid knee.
 20. The shifter of claim 19 in which said actuator member isa third link connected directly to said knee and said magneticattracting and repelling force is created by a permanent magnet on saidthird link and an electrical coil and a metal core located proximatethereto, said coil being capable of being either energized orde-energized for repelling or attracting said magnet.
 21. The shiftermechanism of claim 1 in which said electric switch is electricallyconnected in a first circuit to said coil and includes a lead forelectrical connection to a second circuit to said electrical keyinterlock module whereby actuation of said switch opens the firstcircuit to said coil and closes the second circuit to said electricalkey interlock module.
 22. The shifter mechanism of claim 21 in whichsaid actuator in said second position continues to actuate said switchwhile the shifting lever is in said other gear position.
 23. A vehicletransmission shifter mechanism for a vehicle having a vehicle conditionresponsive means responsive to a first condition and a second conditionof said vehicle, said vehicle transmission shifter having a lockingmember for preventing the shifting of said transmission shifter frompark position to another gear position when the first condition of thevehicle exists, comprising:said vehicle having a steering lock mechanismand an electrical key interlock module for controlling said steeringlock mechanism; a shifting lever movable from a park position to atleast one other gear position; a detent member associated with saidshifting lever for releasably holding said lever in said park position;an actuator for releasing said shifting lever for movement to said othergear position; an electrically operated control module including saidlocking member movable between a locked position to an unlockedposition, said control module being controlled by the first and secondcondition of the vehicle in which said vehicle transmission shifter ismounted whereby when the vehicle is in the first condition, said lockingmember is urged to said locked position and when the vehicle is in thesecond condition, said locking member is urged to a nearly unlockedposition in which actuation of said actuator can release said shiftinglever for movement to said other gear position; said control moduleincluding an electrical coil capable of being in an energized orde-energized state and an actuator member movable in response toenergization of said coil; said actuator member operatively connected tosaid locking member; a metal core proximate said electrical coil andsaid actuator member; said actuator member having a magnetic forceassociated therewith so as to be attracted to said metal core when saidcoil is in one of said de-energized or energized state to urge saidlocked member to locked position and repelled when in the other of saidde-energized or energized state to urge said locking member to thenearly unlocked position; and an electrical switch for controlling theoperation of said electrical key interlock module; said actuator memberbeing movable by said magnetic force toward said electrical switch to afirst position nearly actuating said switch as said pin is urged towardthe unlocked position to said nearly unlocked position whereinsubsequently said actuator can move said pin to unlocked position forrelease by said actuator of said shifting lever for movement to saidother gear position, whereby at said nearly unlocked position saidactuator member is moved to a second position by said actuator toactuate said switch to operate said key interlock module to unlock saidsteering lock mechanism.
 24. The shifter mechanism of claim 23 in whicha resilient restrainer element having a biasing force is provided in aposition relative to said actuator member to exert a force on saidactuator member opposite to said magnetic force exerted on said actuatormember to prevent said magnetic force associated with said actuatormember from actuating said actuator member to said second position; aforce exerted on said locking member by an operator of said shiftingmechanism actuating said actuator being sufficient to overcome saidbiasing force to move said locking member permitting said actuatormember to be moved to said second position at which said switch isactuated.
 25. The shifter mechanism of claim 24 in which the resilientrestrainer element is a spring.
 26. The shifter mechanism of claim 25 inwhich the spring is a leaf spring located between said actuator memberand switch.
 27. The shifter mechanism of claim 23 in which saidmechanical advantage means includes a toggle which includes a first linkand a second link, one of said first links being pivotally connected toone end of said second link providing a knee; the other end of saidfirst link being pivoted about a fixed axis and the other end of saidsecond link being pivotally connected about a movable axis to one end ofsaid locking member whereby the positions of said knee correspond to thelocked and unlocked positions of said locking member; andsaid actuatormember being operatively connected to said first and second links atsaid knee.
 28. The shifter of claim 23 in which the shifting lever is atube having a pawl actuator slidably extending axially through at leasta portion of the inner passageway of said tube; said locking memberbeing elongated along an axis and in its locked position extending intosaid passageway into the path of the pawl actuator.
 29. The shifter ofclaim 28 in which said mechanical advantage means includes a togglemechanism and the control module including said toggle mechanism islocated in a housing supported on said tube; said housing and said tubehaving aligned openings to accommodate the movement of said lockingmember in and out of the path and said pawl actuator.
 30. The shifter ofclaim 23 in which said actuator member extends substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said locking member; and each of said firstand second links in the locked position of said locking member extend ata slight angle away from said core and the axis of said locking memberand in the unlocked position of said locking member extend at a greaterangle away from said core and axis of said locking member.
 31. Theshifter mechanism of claim 23 in which said electric switch iselectrically connected in a first circuit to said coil and includes alead for electrical connection to a second circuit to said electricalkey interlock module whereby actuation of said switch opens the firstcircuit to said coil and closes the second circuit to said electricalkey interlock module.
 32. The shifter mechanism of claim 31 in whichsaid actuator in said second position continues to actuate said switchwhile the shifting lever is in said other gear position.
 33. A vehicletransmission shifter for a vehicle, said vehicle having a steering lockmechanism, an electrical key interlock for controlling said steeringlock mechanism and a vehicle condition responsive means responsive to afirst condition and a second condition of said vehicle, said vehicletransmission shifter having a locking member for preventing the shiftingof said transmission shifter from park position to another gear positionwhen the first condition of the vehicle exists, comprising:a shiftinglever movable from a park position to at least one other gear position;a member associated with said shifting lever for releasably holding saidlever in said park position; an actuator means for releasing saidshifting lever for movement to said other gear position; an electricallyoperated control module including said locking member movable along aline between a locked position to an unlocked position, said controlmodule being controlled by the first and second condition of the vehiclein which said vehicle transmission shifter is mounted whereby when thevehicle is in the first condition, said locking member is urged alongsaid line in a first direction to said locked position and when thevehicle is in the second condition, said locking member is urged alongsaid line in a second direction opposite to said one direction to theunlocked position; the improvement comprising: said control moduleincluding a toggle joint for exerting forces on said locking memberalong said line in either of said first or second directions; and anactuator member operatively connected to said toggle joint for exertinga force on said toggle joint in a direction orthogonal to said first andsecond directions; said toggle joint including a first link and a secondlink, one of said first links being pivotally connected to one end ofsaid second link providing a knee; the other end of said first linkbeing pivoted about a fixed axis and the other end of said second linkbeing pivotally connected about a movable axis to one end of saidlocking member whereby the positions of said knee correspond to thelocked and unlocked positions of said locking member; and said actuatormember being operatively connected to said first and second links atsaid knee and having a magnetic force associated therewith; anelectrical switch for controlling the operation of said electrical keyinterlock module; said actuator member being movable by said magneticforce toward said electrical switch to a first position nearly actuatingsaid switch as said pin is urged toward the unlocked position to saidnearly unlocked position wherein subsequently said actuator can movesaid pin to unlocked position for release by said actuator of saidshifting lever for movement to said other gear position, whereby at saidunlocked position said actuator member is moved to a second position bysaid actuator to actuate said switch to operate said key interlockmodule to unlock said steering lock mechanism.
 34. The shifter mechanismof claim 33 in which a resilient restrainer element having a biasingforce is provided in a position relative to said actuator member toexert a force on said actuator member opposite to said magnetic forceexerted on said actuator member to prevent said magnetic forceassociated with said actuator member from actuating said actuator memberto said second position; a subsequent force exerted on said lockingmember by an operator of said shifting mechanism actuating said actuatorbeing sufficient to overcome said biasing force to move said lockingmember permitting said actuator member to be moved to said secondposition at which said switch is actuated.
 35. The shifter mechanism ofclaim 33 in which said electric switch is electrically connected in afirst circuit to said coil and includes a lead for electrical connectionto a second circuit to said electrical key interlock module wherebyactuation of said switch opens the first circuit to said coil and closesthe second circuit to said electrical key interlock module.
 36. Theshifter mechanism of claim 35 in which said actuator in said secondposition continues to actuate said switch while the shifting lever is insaid other gear position.
 37. A locking mechanism which when actuated tolocked position actuates a switch for controlling a second electricallyoperated device, said locking mechanism comprising an electricallyoperated control module having an elongated locking member movablelongitudinally between a locked position to an unlocked position, saidcontrol module being controlled by applying electrical signals theretowhereby when electrical signals are not applied said locking member isurged to said locked position and when said signals are applied, saidlocking member is urged toward the unlocked position;said control moduleincluding an electrical coil capable of being in an energized orde-energized state, and an actuator member movable in response toenergization of said coil; a toggle joint operatively connecting saidactuator member to said locking member for providing a restraining forceopposing the longitudinal movement of said locking member toward anunlocked position whereby said restraining force of said toggledecreases as said toggle joint moves said locking member toward unlockedposition; a metal core proximate said electrical coil and said actuatormember; and said actuator member having a magnetic force associatedtherewith so as to be attracted to said metal core when said coil is inone of said energized or de-energized states for urging such pin to alocked position; said actuator member being repelled by said metal corewhen said coil is in the other of said energized or de-energized statesto urge said pin to a nearly unlocked position; an electrical switch forcontrolling the operation of said second electronically operated device;said actuator member being movable by said magnetic force toward saidelectrical switch to a first position nearly actuating said switch assaid locking member is urged toward the unlocked position to said nearlyunlocked position; a restrainer operatively associated with said togglejoint for holding said actuator member at said first position until asubsequent force is exerted on said locking member in a longitudinaldirection toward said unlocked position at which said unlocked positionsaid switch is actuated.
 38. The locking mechanism of claim 37 in whichsaid locking member is a pin.
 39. The locking mechanism of claim 37 inwhich said restrainer is a resilient restrainer element exerting abiasing force to prevent said magnetic force associated with saidactuator member from actuating said actuator member past said firstposition; said restrainer element permitting a subsequent force exertedon said locking member to an unlocked position to overcome said biasingforce to force said actuator member against the bias of said resilientrestraining element to actuate said switch.
 40. The locking mechanism ofclaim 39 in which the resilient restrainer element is a spring.
 41. Thelocking mechanism of claim 40 in which the spring is a leaf springlocated between said actuator member and switch.
 42. The lockingmechanism of claim 37 in which said toggle joint means includes a firstlink and a second link, one end of said first link being pivotallyconnected to one end of said second link providing a knee; the other endof said first link being pivoted about a fixed axis and the other end ofsaid second link being pivotally connected about a movable axis to oneend of said pin whereby the positions of said knee correspond to thelocked and unlocked positions of said locking member; andsaid actuatormember being operatively connected to said first and second links atsaid knee.
 43. The locking mechanism of claim 42 in which said actuatormember is a third link connected directly to said knee and containing amagnet being attracted to said core when the coil is in the de-energizedstate and repelled by said core when the coil is in the said energizedstate.
 44. The shifter mechanism of claim 37 in which said electricswitch is electrically connected in a first circuit to said coil andincludes a lead for electrical connection to a second circuit to saidelectrically operated device whereby actuation of said switch opens thefirst circuit to said coil and closes the second circuit to saidelectrically operated device.
 45. A locking mechanism which whenactuated to locked position actuates a switch for controlling a secondelectrically operated device, said locking mechanism comprising anelectrically operated control module including a locking member movablealong a line between a locked position to an unlocked position, saidcontrol module being controlled by electrical signals whereby when saidsignals are applied said locking member is urged along said line in afirst direction to said locked position and when said signals are notapplied said locking member is urged along said line in a seconddirection opposite to said one direction to the unlocked position;saidcontrol module including mechanical advantage means for exerting forceson said locking member along said line in either of said first or seconddirection; and an actuator member operatively connected to saidmechanical advantage means for exerting a force on said mechanicaladvantage means in a direction orthogonal to said first and seconddirections; a permanent magnetic force associated with said actuatormember; said permanent magnetic force adapted to exert on said actuatormember a magnetic attracting and repelling force; an electrical switchfor controlling the operation of said second electrically operateddevice; said actuator member being movably by said magnetic force towardsaid electrical switch to a first position nearly actuating said switchas said locking member is urged toward the unlocked position to saidnearly unlocked position wherein subsequently application of a force tomove said locking member to unlocked position moves said actuator memberto a second position to actuate said switch.
 46. The shifter mechanismof claim 45 in which said electric switch is electrically connected in afirst circuit to said coil and includes a lead for electrical connectionto a second circuit to said electrically operated device wherebyactuation of said switch opens the first circuit to said coil and closesthe second circuit to said electrically operated device.
 47. A lockingmechanism which when actuated to locked position actuates a switch forcontrolling a second electronically operated device, said lockingmechanism comprising an electrically operated control module including alocking member movable along a line between a locked position to anunlocked position, said control module being controlled by electricalsignals whereby when said signals are applied said locking member isurged along said line in a first direction to said locked position andwhen said signals are not applied said locking member is urged alongsaid line in a second direction opposite to said one direction to theunlocked position;said control module including mechanical advantagemeans for exerting forces on said locking member along said line ineither of said first or second directions; and an actuator memberoperatively connected to said mechanical advantage means for exerting aforce on said mechanical advantage means in a direction orthogonal tosaid first and second directions; a magnetic force associated with saidactuator member; said magnetic force adapted to exert on said actuatormember a magnetic force causing said locking member to be moved towardan unlocked position; an electrical switch for controlling the operationof said second electronically operated device; said actuator memberbeing movable by said magnetic force toward said electrical switch to afirst position nearly actuating said switch as said locking member isurged toward the unlocked position to said nearly unlocked positionwherein subsequent application of a force to move said locking member tounlocked position moves said actuator member to a second position toactuate said switch.
 48. The locking mechanism of claim 47 in which aresilient restrainer element is provided to exert a biasing force toprevent said magnetic force associated with said actuator member fromactuating said actuator member past said first position; said restrainerelement permitting a subsequent force exerted on said locking member toan unlocked position to overcome said biasing force to force saidactuator member against the bias of said resilient restraining member toactuate said switch.
 49. The locking mechanism of claim 48 in which theresilient restrainer element is a spring.
 50. The locking mechanism ofclaim 49 in which the spring is a leaf spring located between saidactuator member and switch.
 51. The locking mechanism of claim 47 inwhich said mechanical advantage means includes an elongated mechanismpivotally mounted at one end on a fixed axis located on said line andsecured to said locking member at its other end, said other end beingmovable with said locking member along said line, said elongatedmechanism having an intermediate portion movable intermediate said endsin a direction substantially orthogonal to said direction of said lineand responsive to the movement of said locking member along said lineand vice versa; said actuator member being operatively connected to saidintermediate portion for restraining the movement of said locking memberwhen said ends and intermediate portion are substantially aligned andsaid locking member is in locked position, and for moving said lockingmember when said intermediate portion is spaced from said line in adirection toward said actuator member and force is applied by saidactuator member to said intermediate portion.
 52. The locking mechanismof claim 51 in which the mechanical advantage means is a toggle joint.53. The locking mechanism of claim 52 in which said toggle jointincludes a first link and a second link, one of said first links beingpivotally connected to one end of said second link providing a knee; theother end of said first link being pivoted about a fixed axis and theother end of said second link being pivotally connected about a movableaxis to one end of said locking member whereby the positions of saidknee correspond to the locked and unlocked positions of said lockingmember; andsaid actuator member being operatively connected to saidfirst and second links at said knee.
 54. The shifter mechanism of claim47 in which said electric switch is electrically connected in a firstcircuit to said coil and includes a lead for electrical connection to asecond circuit to said electrically operated device whereby actuation ofsaid switch opens the first circuit to said coil and closes the secondcircuit to said electrically operated device.